2024-07-08 14:42:50
“In a context marked by uncertainty and where barriers of all kinds, real or imaginary, seem to multiply, cinema remains a bridge that ensures the connection between hearts and minds, and constitutes a universal language that transcends differences, brings cultures together and contributes to unity,” said Mr. El Malki, who was speaking at the closing night of the 24th edition of the Khouribga International Festival of African Cinema (FICAK), quoted in a press release from the festival’s Foundation.
“Let us ensure that this universal art is preserved, supported and consolidated to make it an instrument of development and cohesion for the peoples of the continent and the rest of the world,” he called.
This festival, which has grown over time, has been the catalyst for profound change, both locally and on a continental scale. By celebrating African cinema annually, this festival offers an opportunity to pay tribute to the community of African filmmakers, the same source specifies.
It also offers a showcase for young talents from the continent, thus contributing to the emergence of new filmmakers whose innovative vision is likely to open up new artistic perspectives and broaden the horizons of African cinema.
Likewise, this annual celebration constitutes the privileged meeting place where illustrious names of the seventh art rub shoulders with young hopefuls coming from different regions of the continent, thus creating a bridge between generations.
Mr. El Mali did not fail to praise the success of this year’s festival programming, stating that the films selected in this edition were chosen with the greatest care for their artistic quality, their originality and their ability to hold the attention of spectators and arouse many emotions in them.
“The competition was particularly strong this year with 13 films from 11 countries competing for the official feature film awards. This competition also covers short films with 15 films scheduled for this category of cinematographic production,” he explained.
“Throughout the screenings, from the launch of the Festival to the final presentation, we were all captivated by the selected films through the stories they tell, the fascinating universes they imagine and the intense emotions they arouse, thanks to the talent and vision of their directors,” he said.
He expressed his gratitude to all those who made this exceptional event possible: to the directors and producers for their exceptional work, to the actors for their great talent, to the technical teams for the dedication they showed throughout this celebration and, “of course, to you, dear film lovers and dear spectators, for your presence and your passion which have brought this festival to the best standards of celebration of cinema in our continent.”
True to its tradition, FICAK has chosen this year to pay tribute to the cinema of a brother country, dear to us all, Mali, through the programming of six films by Malian filmmakers, added the president of FFICAK.
“By highlighting Malian cinema, we would like to celebrate not only an art, but also an identity, a collective memory and a vision of humanity that resonates beyond borders and differences,” he said, noting that Mali, the cradle of a thousand-year-old civilization, “has been able, through its history, its culture and its cinema, to offer us a particular perspective on the world through a specific experience marked by originality, truth and resilience.”
“We are all pleased to welcome on this occasion the directors, writers, artists and novelists who do us the honour of being among us to participate in this Festival and enrich our discussions on the developments of cinematographic arts in the continent,” he said.
“Through your presence, we would like to pay tribute to the people of Mali, to their creativity and to their rich and diverse cinematographic heritage. The six films programmed in this edition allowed us to discover artistic works that transported us through multiple universes of our continent. These universes, both familiar and unknown, invite us all to better understand the realities that surround us in order to respond to the aspirations of the people, our peoples,” he observed.
And to continue that the celebration of cinematographic arts in our continent constitutes a privileged moment to pay a strong tribute to our distinguished artists, producers, actors and directors, who have left their mark on the development of the seventh art in our continent.
“In this 24th edition of the Festival, we have chosen, as part of the honorary distinctions, to reward the Moroccan actor Mohamed El Kahlfi and the Ivorian actress Naky Sy Savané, in recognition of their professional merits throughout their artistic careers,” he noted.
With his long artistic experience spanning more than sixty years, Mohamed El Khalfi was one of the pioneers as an actor in the fields of theater, television and cinema in Morocco. Mohamed El Khalfi, who began his career by playing his first play in 1957, was able to develop his acting talent by subsequently joining several theater troupes including that of Tayeb Seddiki. He continued his artistic career by participating in numerous film productions as well as television series,” he recalled.
The Khouribga International Festival of African Cinema would like to pay a warm tribute to Mohamed El Khalfi, an exceptional artist who gave his all for the cinematographic arts in Morocco as an actor.
The Festival also wishes to express its high regard to Naky Sy Savané for her contribution to the development of cinematographic arts in Côte d’Ivoire and throughout the continent. As everyone knows, this exceptional actress has appeared in several feature films and television films that have earned her honorary distinctions, among which it is important to note the interpretation prize awarded by our Festival in 1994. Naky Sy Savané is also known for her commitment to social causes, including access to education and the emancipation of women.
The Khouribga International Festival of African Cinema wishes to honor this Great Lady of African Comedy for her professional merits and her commitment to social development.
Mr. El Malki took this opportunity to extend his warmest congratulations to the authors of the films as well as to the different categories of actors awarded during this festival.
“We do not forget that any award in such a high-level competition is the result of hard work, remarkable creativity and an intense passion for cinema,” he noted, noting that these distinctions should be a source of inspiration and motivation to exert more efforts, persevere in creative work and explore new horizons in the art of cinema.
2024-07-08 14:42:50